Jim Playfair facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jim Playfair |
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| Born | May 22, 1964 Fort St. James, British Columbia, Canada |
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| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Edmonton Oilers Chicago Blackhawks |
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| Coached for | Calgary Flames | ||
| NHL Draft | 20th overall, 1982 Edmonton Oilers |
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| Playing career | 1983–1992 | ||
| Coaching career | 1993–2022 | ||
James Playfair (born May 22, 1964) is a Canadian former ice hockey coach and player. He played as a defence player in the NHL. Later, he became a head coach for the Calgary Flames. He also worked as an associate coach for the Arizona Coyotes and the Edmonton Oilers.
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Playing Hockey: Jim Playfair's Career
Before joining the NHL, Jim Playfair played for the Fort Saskatchewan Traders. He was a strong player. He then played for two famous NHL teams: the Edmonton Oilers and the Chicago Blackhawks.
Jim has an older brother, Larry Playfair, who also played hockey. Both brothers were chosen early in the NHL Entry Draft. Jim was picked in 1982, and Larry in 1978. They both played junior hockey for the Portland Winter Hawks. Larry played in many more NHL games (688) than Jim (21).
Coaching Hockey: Leading Teams
Jim Playfair started his coaching career after playing. He became the head coach of the Calgary Flames on July 12, 2006. Before this, he was an assistant coach for the Flames. He took over from Darryl Sutter, who stayed on as the team's general manager.
Jim had already found success as a coach. He led the Saint John Flames of the American Hockey League (AHL) to a Calder Cup championship in 2001. This is a big award for AHL teams.
In his first season as head coach of the Calgary Flames (2006-2007), the team did well. They won 43 games and made it to the playoffs. However, they lost in the first round to the Detroit Red Wings. After one season, Mike Keenan took over as head coach.
Coaching in the Minor Leagues
On June 5, 2009, Jim Playfair returned to coaching in the AHL. He became the head coach of the Abbotsford Heat, which was a team linked to the Calgary Flames. He coached the Heat for two seasons. In 2009-2010, he led them to the North Division finals.
During a playoff game in 2010, Jim got very upset about some penalty calls. He broke two hockey sticks in frustration. He later said he was sorry for this moment.
Later Coaching Roles
After his time with the Heat, Jim became an associate coach for the Arizona Coyotes in 2011. He worked there until 2017. In June 2019, he joined the Edmonton Oilers as an associate coach. He stayed with the Oilers until February 2022, when he and the head coach were let go.
Personal Life
Jim Playfair lives with his wife, Roxane. They have three sons: Dylan, Jackson, and Austyn. His son, Dylan Playfair, is an actor. Dylan is known for his roles in the TV show Letterkenny and as Gil the Pirate in Disney's Descendants movies.
See also
- Notable families in the NHL
